The best massage guns are great at aiding recovery and relaxation after exercise without the eye-watering massage therapist fees. Ranging in price from $50 to several hundred, options abound.
To help you find the best massage gun, we put all the best-selling and most popular models to the test, marking them against performance, noise and battery life. We also assess each's ability to soothe our post-workout muscle aches and tension. Finally, we trial all included accessories, like heated massage heads, to see if they work as advertised or are junk.
Unsure how to use them? We cover that, too, as well as all the times when you shouldn't use a massage gun at all. Here's our round-up of the best massage guns you can buy right now.
The quick list
The Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2 is an affordable, lightweight massage gun that packs a powerful punch. It costs around the same as the Theragun Mini, but unlike the Mini, it comes with two different attachments.
The Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro is well-suited for casual athletes, like runners and cyclists, and advanced users, too. The basic but solid construction makes it a good choice for nearly anyone looking to invest in a high-end massage gun.
The Bob and Brad C2 Pro Heat and Ice massage gun made this list for its reasonable price, plentiful attachment options, carry case, and quiet sound levels. It comes with five massage heads, including a heated/cooled one.
The Theragun Elite may be costly, but it’s the Porsche among massage guns. One thing we loved about the Elite is that it can be held in various ways, allowing users to apply pressure more efficiently and comfortably.
The Legiral has 20 speeds and five interchangeable heads. The massage gun boasts a 16mm amplitude, the same as you’d find on the much pricier Theragun Pro and Theragun Elite.
It’s serious athletes the Theragun Pro (Gen 5) is best suited for, with the premium price tag delivering premium features the average person might not need. Expect on-screen guidance and an added micro-point attachment, plus 20% less sound.
The Mighty Bliss deep tissue back and body massager uses a slim and lightweight design to help you reach those otherwise hard-to-tackle knots and painful areas.
Theragun Mini is the best for travel by the popular Theragun brand. Lightweight with good battery life and adequate pressure for pain relief, it's good to have an on-the-go option.
The best massage guns you can buy today
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
Best massage gun overall
The Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2 is an affordable, lightweight massage gun that packs a powerful punch. It costs around the same as the Theragun Mini, but unlike the mini, it comes with two different attachments, has a 180-minute battery life (compared to the Mini’s 150-minutes), and has a top speed of 3,200 pulsations per minute (compared to the Mini’s 2,400). It’s also got a more traditional massage gun design, which allows you to hold it in different positions to really work into tired, sore muscles.
At 1.5 pounds, the Hypervolt Go 2 is seriously light. Surprisingly light, in fact, when you consider its top speed of 3,200 PPM — about the same as that of far more expensive, and heftier massage guns on the market. It’s lightweight enough to be portable and is approved by the TSA to stow in your carry-on, however, it doesn’t come in a carry case, which is a little disappointing, especially when the likes of the Theragun Mini does.
We were impressed with the battery life and weight of this gun, but there are a couple of downsides — the massage gun doesn't have Bluetooth connectivity, so you can't sync it to your app. The app itself isn't all that helpful, especially for beginners.
Read our Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2 review
Best massage gun for runners
The Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro is a well-made massage gun, especially suited for athletes and advanced users. The basic yet solid construction of the Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro makes it a good choice for nearly anyone looking to invest in a high-end massage gun. However, a few key factors gear the Pro towards a more experienced user.
The Hypervolt 2 Pro has an exceptional battery life — at three hours, it outlasts the Theragun Elite and the Theragun Mini by 60 and 30 minutes respectively. The Theragun Pro doubles the Hypervolt 2 Pro’s run time with a six-hour life, but you’ll pay $200 more for that extra three hours. Charging the Pro once got me through an entire week’s worth of testing, with plenty of battery left to spare.
The Hyperice App is capable of leading accomplished athletes through comprehensive programming for a competitive edge. A variety of textured attachments combined with a speedy 2700 PPM effectively releases the tightest trigger points and muscle groups.
The downsides here are that the gun is slightly awkward to hold, and doesn't come with a carry case, which could be an issue if you plan on traveling with the gun. Since it’s pretty sturdy, you could most likely get away with cushioning it between some thick sweatshirts and tossing it in your bag. But on the other hand, if I’m going to pay a few hundred bucks for a massage gun, I’d like to know that it could be protected appropriately during transport.
Read our full Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro review
Best massage gun with heat
The Bob and Brad C2 Pro Heat and Ice Massage Gun is a beginner-friendly model that's often on sale for less than $100 and comes with a lot of accessories. The most notable of which is a heated/cooled attachment head. You also get four other attachments, a nifty travel case and a charging cable.
The C2 Pro is relatively lightweight at 1.5 pounds and has a large handle, making it comfortable to hold and well-suited for knocking out those hard-to-reach kinks. At around 55 decibels, it's a fairly quiet device with five speed settings ranging from 2,000 to 3,200 PPMs. The battery is good for roughly three hours on its lowest setting.
The stroke amplitude is just 10mm, making this gun less powerful than other options on our list. However, this also makes it a top pick for beginners. The C2 Pro additionally indicates how much pressure is being applied via a series of colorful LEDs on the back giving users plenty of control over their percussive therapy.
As well as being well-priced and fairly versatile, the Bob and Brad C2 Pro's Heat+Ice attachment is truly what sets this product apart from the competition. It charges separately from the massage gun via USB-C, offers an hour of battery life and gets hot/cold nearly instantaneously.
Read our Bob and Brad C2 Pro Heat and Ice Massage Gun hands-on
Best powerful massage gun
The Theragun Elite may be costly, but it’s a worthwhile investment that can help anyone to move — and feel — better. The Theragun Elite is a Porsche among massage guns, with a price that’s topped only by another Theragun model (the Theragun Pro). One thing we loved about the Elite is that it can be held in various ways, allowing users to apply pressure more efficiently and comfortably. Our tester found this multi-grip design especially helpful when targeting hard-to-reach spots, like the lower back and hamstrings.
The Elite, its five attachments, and a power adapter come boxed inside of a hard shell carrying case with various storage compartments. It’s bulky and would take up a considerable amount of room in your gym bag or suitcase. That being said, if we're paying almost $400 for a massage gun, we'd prefer to have a case that’s bulky and protective over one that’s flimsy and compact. If you’re looking for a massage gun with better portability, take a look at the Theragun Mini.
The battery life is also pretty impressive on the Elite — one full charge of the battery can get you up to two hours of operation. We also found it doesn't take the Elite long to fully charge, making it a handy option for anyone using the massage gun as a regular part of their recovery routine.
You might think a hefty price tag would indicate that the Theragun Elite should be reserved for those ready to run their fifth triathlon, but we would argue the opposite. Because of the Therabody App, which provides step-by-step guidance and personalized programming, the Elite is an excellent choice for someone who hasn’t thought about their muscles since high school anatomy class.
Can't decide between the Theragun Elite and the Theragun Pro — read our face-off here.
Read our full Theragun Elite review
Best massage gun under $100
The Legiral has 20 speeds and five interchangeable heads so you can target every inch of your body that ails you. The massage gun boasts a 16mm amplitude (the distance the shaft and attachment travel away from the gun and into your muscle), the same as you’d find on the much pricier Theragun Pro and Theragun Elite. While this is impressive considering its low price, we have to admit that the Le3 didn’t pack quite as powerful a punch as the Theragun models during testing — we had to apply a lot more pressure to get an equivalent massage. That said, we'd also assume having to use more force is worth saving hundreds of dollars.
For a gun that costs under $100, you’d expect the Legiral Le3 to lack a lot of the high-quality properties of its more expensive competitors. But with a well-above-average amplitude, lengthy battery life, an incredibly wide PPM range, and twenty different speed settings, the Le3 holds its own among the more well-known brands.
However, there are a few aspects that reveal why the Le3 is priced the way it is — namely, a less powerful motor and very light stall force threshold. If you’re a professional or recreational athlete, these weaknesses may be pretty glaring. Even a CrossFit devotee or amateur powerlifter would probably be happier with one of the Theragun or Hyperice models.
Read our full Legiral Le3 Massage Gun review
Best massage gun for athletes
It’s serious athletes the Theragun Pro (Gen 5) might best be suited for, with the premium $599 price tag delivering premium features the average person might not need. That said, new on-screen guidance and an added micro-point attachment, plus 20% less sound, make the latest Theragun Pro one of the best massage guns you can buy.
Though we can’t overlook the cost, it truly is the only qualm to consider. Power, portability and a long-lasting battery life make for another great Theragun percussion device for penetrating those sore muscle tissues. It comes with 6 total attachments, offering options for the recovery you need. In fact, if you're someone who takes their recovery seriously, the high-end Theragun model might be be worthwhile investment for you.
Read our full Theragun Pro (Gen 5) review
Best massage gun for back pain
The Mighty Bliss Cordless Massager is more “massage wand” than “massage gun,” and that difference comes with a few advantages. The long, slim handle makes it easy to target spots that are difficult to address with traditional massage guns, like your lower, mid, and upper back. It’s also a great option for seniors or those with mobility concerns, for whom typical massage gun usage might be challenging.
But as a general use massage gun, the Mighty Bliss Cordless Massager is lacking. A short amplitude and incredibly low stall force threshold means that the Mighty Bliss’ percussive massage isn’t so mighty after all. While the sensation might feel nice, it’s doubtful that the gun could elicit any real therapeutic results on thicker muscle tissues like the quadriceps, glutes, or even calves.
According to the user manual, you should expect up to four hours of continuous use from the Mighty Bliss before the battery dies. During testing, we got roughly half that, about two hours. Recharging took a respectable 60 minutes (and unlike most massagers, we were still able to use the gun during charging). That’s nearly identical to the far costlier Theragun Elite’s battery life and charge times. So all in all, the Mighty Bliss’ battery performance isn’t too bad.
Read our full Mighty Bliss Cordless Massager review
Best mini massage gun
The Theragun Mini takes all the benefits of percussive massage and wraps everything in a very small and light package. Shaped like a thick and oversized guitar pick, the Mini fits comfortably into your palm and allows you to apply adequate pressure to the muscle groups you’re targeting. The Mini has three speeds: 1750, 2100, and 2400 PPM (percussions per minute). Adjusting the speed is done through a sole button on the side of the device, with three lights indicating the current PPM.
One of the downsides with the Mini is that it only comes with one ball attachment, however, all things considered though, the standard ball is a good catch-all attachment that can be used effectively on most parts of the body. The Mini is also compatible with all of Theragun’s 4th generation attachments, so if you own another current Theragun model, you could always pop any of their attachments onto your Mini. If you don’t, attachments can be purchased separately.
Where the Mini really excels is in its portability — it can easily fit in most purses, backpacks, and gym bags, and makes taking the massage gun with you to the gym, or to your next overseas marathon a joy.
Read our full Theragun Mini review
Features compared
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2 | Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro | Bob and Brad C2 Pro Heat and Ice | Theragun Elite | Legiral Le3 Massage Gun | Theragun Pro | Mighty Bliss Deep Tissue Back and Body Massager | Theragun Mini |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percussions per minute | 2200-3200 ppm | 1700-2700 ppm | Up to 3,200 ppm | 2,400 ppm | 1,200-3,200 ppm | Up to 2,400 ppm | 3,700 ppm | Up to 2,400 ppm |
| Noise level | Up to 65 decibels | 55-65 decibels | 55 decibels | 60-70 decibels | 35-55 decibels | 55 decibels | 62 decibels | 50 decibels |
| Battery life | 3 hours | 3 hours | 3 hours | 2 hours | 6 hours | 5 hours | 2 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Weight | 1.5 pounds | 2.6 pounds | 1.5 pounds | 2.2 pounds | 4.1 pounds | 2.9 pounds | 3.7 pounds | 1.4 pounds |
| Price | $129 | $329 | $100 | $399 | $129 | $349 | $49 | $199 |
Q&A
What should I look for in a massage gun?
Some factors you want to think about when buying the best massage guns include how heavy the device is. Although most devices weigh less than five pounds, the difference between a lighter massage gun and a heavier one can mean your arm gets tired faster, especially if you’re holding the device in a hard-to-reach location, like your neck, shoulders and back.
The best massage guns should have a battery life that lasts longer than an hour, usually up to two hours. You won’t be using vibration therapy for an hour on your body at a time, but not needing to charge the device every time will make life easier. When you’re thinking about buying a massage gun, see if backup batteries are included or are available. If you’re traveling, it might be worth it to have two charged batteries so you don’t have to deal with one leg that’s been worked on and the other leg hasn’t been massaged.
Massage gun customers should also look at the device’s amplitude. This is the distance the head will travel and how deep the gun hits the muscle. A massage gun with a higher amplitude can feel more intense even at a lower speed than a vibration-type massage gun. The massage guns that have higher amplitude should be able to target a specific area deep into the muscle to help reduce muscle pain and improve blood circulation.
The frequency or speed of a massage gun is usually measured in percussions per minute (PPM) or strokes per minute and tends to be available in the 1,200 to 3,200-PPM range. A higher frequency will deliver a more intense massage. If you want a massage gun that only delivers a surface-level massage instead of a deep, sports-style massage, you would use a lower-power setting on the device.
If you live in a flat share or in a house with small children, you might want to consider how noisy the massage gun is. Some of them are pretty noisy, which won’t be ideal if you’re using the massage gun in the evenings as part of your recovery routine.
When some consumers are looking at the best massage guns, having a variety of attachments or heads will be important to them. Most devices average about five attachment head options, usually, a cushioned head, rounded, fork, and flat options, as well as some cone-shaped (bullet) attachments that target a specific area.
How do I use a massage gun?
For Theragun users, the massage gun is compatible with the Therabody app, which has a number of different suggested routines aimed at problem areas you might want to focus on, like your lower back, or based on your sport, such as cycling or running. It's free to use and worth downloading to make sure you're not focusing on one area for too long.
For other models, there are some general rules that apply when using all massage guns at home. Experts agree that one to two minutes on a large muscle group is more than enough and you'll probably want to use a lower frequency setting unless you've built a lot of muscle (weightlifters, we're looking at you).
Secondly, no matter how exciting your new massage gun might be, you shouldn't be using it every day. Sports physiotherapists recommend using percussive therapy alongside your other recovery tools, such as foam rolling, or Epsom salt baths. Every few days is enough if you want your massage gun to still be effective.
Finally, be careful about using your massage gun on pulled or injured muscles, as it can make things worse. If you're not sure whether your muscle is pulled or just tight, it's a good idea to wait 48 hours and hit it with the RICE technique (rest, ice, compression, elevation) before reaching for your massage gun.
You should also avoid using a massage gun on sprains or inflammation injuries, such as tendinitis and fascitis and it goes without saying, never use a massage gun on broken bones. Massage guns are powerful tools, so if in doubt, check with an expert first. We drill down on how to use a massage gun in more detail, here.
Why should I buy a massage gun?
It depends on what you will use your massage gun for. If you exercise regularly and find yourself nursing sore muscles post-workout, a massage gun is a handy way to self-massage tight or painful areas. Alternatively, they can be used for relaxation.
If you have an injury, always check with a qualified medical professional beforehand. Depending on the model you buy, massage guns can deliver deep penetration to the body which can be painful on bones and tendons. Avoid these areas and stick to your muscles only.
When used well, massage guns can be used pre or post-workout to help your body recover faster and aid circulation, improve range of motion and boost overall performance. When used with one of the best foam rollers, you've got a recipe for success.
Although the research is mixed when it comes to percussive therapy, people do report improvements for reducing aches and pains and muscular tension. Moreover, some research found that percussive massage treatments during a warm-up regimen could boost flexibility in athletes without sacrificing muscle performance.
More from Tom's Guide
